Hey tech enthusiasts! Ever felt like your computer could use an extra boost in speed and performance? Well, guess what? You can harness the power of your hard drive to function as virtual RAM and give your system the upgrade it deserves. Let’s dive into how you can make your computer run faster without breaking the bank!
You can use a portion of your hard drive to function similarly to RAM (Random Access Memory) in Windows 10. RAM: What Is It? Another name for it is Virtual Memory, and it is essential to the stability of the system. You can enhance your computer’s performance by installing more RAM.
The question now is, how can the hard drive be used as RAM? I’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide that outlines how to increase Windows 10’s virtual memory to slightly improve computer performance.
First, let’s understand what’s Virtual RAM.
When your computer’s physical RAM (Random Access Memory) is running low, Virtual RAM, also known as Virtual Memory, allows it to use a portion of hard drive space as additional memory. It is a temporary data storage unit that temporarily holds data that might be required by running programs but is not immediately required.
Pros of Virtual RAM:
- Virtual RAM expands your computer’s memory capacity without physically adding more RAM sticks.
- It enables smoother multitasking by providing additional memory resources to handle multiple programs simultaneously.
- Utilizing virtual RAM is cost-effective compared to upgrading physical RAM.
Cons of Virtual RAM:
- Virtual RAM is slower than physical RAM due to residing on the hard drive, leading to slower data access.
- Heavy virtual RAM reliance can slow systems, especially with slow or fragmented hard drives.
- Virtual RAM is limited by available hard drive space.
Use HDD as RAM
Now, that you know about Virtual RAM, let’s see how you can use Hard-Drive as RAM.
Step 1: Finding the Required Virtual Memory
In order to use HDD as virtual RAM, it’s important to first determine how much RAM you require. There isn’t a fixed amount of virtual memory that’s the best choice for everyone, as it mainly depends on your specific needs. This includes how much RAM you currently have and how much of it you typically use.ve and how much of it you typically use.
Firstly,
Launch every program and application you typically use at once; if you notice a slowdown or instability in your system, this suggests that you need to add more virtual memory.
Or Secondly, check using Task Manager
- You can launch Task Manager by either typing Task Manager into Windows search and selecting this desktop application from the results or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del.
- Navigate to the Performance tab and choose Memory from the pane on the left.
- Examine the value under Committed (it represents the combined amount of RAM and virtual memory). The amount that is in use is indicated on the left, and the maximum amount that is available is indicated on the right. You need to add more virtual memory if the number on the left is near the number on the right.
Step 2: Configure the Virtual RAM
To manually configure the external hard drive, open the Control Panel, select Advanced System Settings, and then click on it. Kindly adhere to the steps listed below to configure Windows 10’s virtual memory.
- Open the START type the control panel, and then select the Control Panel desktop application.
- Select System and Security from the Control Panel’s main window.
- On the System and Security page, select the System option. You can now clearly see how much RAM you have available for use.
- From the left side, select Advanced System Settings by clicking on it.
- Keep in mind to remain on the Advanced tab.
- Now, select the Performance area and click the Settings button.
- Select the tab labeled Advanced.
- In the lower right corner, click the Change… button.
- You can now allow Windows to manage the paging file automatically.
- Click on Restart when prompted
The performance of your computer could be completely transformed by virtual RAM. Though it has advantages like more memory and affordability, keep in mind that it has drawbacks like slower access speeds. Utilize virtual RAM to its full potential and experience faster, more effective computing by following our guide!